It's better than seeing 5 and 12 together and worrying about whether 5 is cheating on 7, or if they have an open relationship. Or maybe they're just friends -- although they do seem to be awfully close, don't you think?

"Colonel O'Neill, please, next time just step out of the line of fire. Major Carter has enough paperwork of her own without having to step into the breach for you," Hammond said as he looked down at the infirmary bed containing his 2IC.

"Well, General, I've been thinking about that, and I was thinking we could step up the entire process by... you know, just skipping step five altogether," Jack muttered with a random wave of his hand.

General Hammond rolled his eyes. "Colonel..."

"Seriously, I don't mean to step on anybody's toes, but whoever invented paperwork clearly was not a people-person. Oh, I know!" Jack sat up a little straighter, a gleam entering his eyes. "It was someone's stepmother! It wouldn't surprise me if somehow Kinsey was involved..."

"Colonel," Hammond warned, "You're stepping out of line."

The downed Colonel brought his gaze back up at the General, realizing where he was again.

"Sorry, General, Sir," he uttered, sagging back down against the pillow.

Hammond tried to keep his gaze stern, but the feverish appearance and inability of his subordinate to keep his eyes open, made him change his mind. "Just get well soon, son." With those words, Hammond left Jack to recuperate.

Jack's eyes opened again. Hey, now that the General was gone, perhaps he could make his escape... He'd gotten as far as three steps, when...

"Not another step, Colonel!" Fraiser's voice commanded. Jack froze and quickly scrambled back into the bed.

"That's what I tried to tell Hammond too, but does anybody ever listen to me?" Jack muttered, as a healing sleep claimed him.